Location / position / height / altitude / temperature / climate / importance / significance / population / handicrafts / history / festivals / STD code / language / travel guide / tips / tourism of Cooch behar , West Bengal , India
The land of celebrated past with affluent heritage and ethnicity lies on the eastern state of West Bengal flanking Assam in the east and in the south the neighboring country Bangladesh.Coochbehar is the solitary planned town in the whole North Bengal District having the reminiscences of the royal heritage. The palaces and monuments illustrate the lives of the bygone golden ages. Coochbehar was an autonomous kingdom earlier than merging up with India.
The olden times of Cooch Behar way back in the period of 11th to 12th century AD all through the reign of the Pala and the Senas. Various artworks, coins, sculptures, antiques discovered from the excavation works in different times divulge that the olden territory of
Kamrup played a vital role in the expansion of the current region of Cooch Behar district inWest Bengal.The most recently excavated Rajpat or Palace at Gossanimari, 25kms away from Coochbehar denotes the site as an ancient capital of Kamtapur of the Khen dynasty.
The current Cooch Behar originates from the
Kamta land and Maharaj Niladhvaja was the originator of the said dynasty. Afterward during toe period 1510 to 1530 AD Maharaja Viswa Singha led to the formation of an independent 'Koch' kingdom. Cooch Bihar, the state under British Rule before 1949, surrendered its complete and widespread authority, jurisdiction and authority of the state to the Dominion Government of India vide an agreement dated 28th August 1949, which became effective from 12th September 1949.
Ultimately, on 19th January 1950 Cooch Behar by the way of transfer and amalgamated with the province of West Bengal. From that very date in the administrative map of West Bengal, Cooch Behar was recognized as a new District.Cooch Behar is rich in convention and culture too. Hindus being the greater part of the population, this is the religious land with lots of Temples along with many festivals. The ancient historical archeological structures and monuments play a significant role to bring the city into the map of vital heritage site. Even though most of the buildings are now facing slow but sure destruction but still the city is on the increase in popularity for the ancient remains.
Things to see / lakes / heritage buildings / local sightseeing / rivers / shopping / Palace in and around Coochbehar
The Royal Palace :The most vital tourist attraction in Coochbehar is the Palace or Rajbari, the pride of the city even these days. In 1887 the celebrated Koch King, Maharaja Nripendra Narayan built this superb palace. In the conception of this palace influence of the classical European style of Italian Renaissance can be observed. The splendid double storied building covering an area of 4768 square meters, extends 90 meters from east to west and 120 meters from north to south.
The architecture of the Palace is really awesome and worth mentioning. A concave shaped porch is found projected at the center of the foremost entrance to the building all the way through the Durbar Hall. The Durbar Hall, which is dodecagonal in shape, rests on four pillar arches in support of enormous Corinthian pilasters thereby projecting a lantern atop and the figure recalls of the St. Peter's Church at Rome.
The structure consists of more or less fifty massive halls, including bedrooms, billiard room, dressing rooms and kitchen along with halls for dinning, dancing, library and gallery for the ladies. The rooms are worthy of special concentration for their gorgeous Royal paintings which adorns the ceiling and also the interior walls of the palace.
fountains / timing / entry fee of The Light and Sound Show The cultural Department of West Bengal organizes musical shows every Friday and Saturday with colorful lighting and fountains of joy beside the Coochbihar Palace. This show has become immensely popular among the tourist as well as the citizens of the locality. The show commences with the fall of evening which continues till 8 P.M. set in the midst of a fine maintained garden in the heart of the city the pleasure park becomes alive with the start of the show. The fountains making peculiar shapes with rhythm of music twist and turn with the theme. No doubt that It is a sort of recreation and way to spend leisure.
Sagar Dighi In the town the most significant water body is Sagar Dighi which is positioned in the heart of Coochbihar. Enclosed by the longstanding royal heritage structures at the four sides of the square shaped lake SagarDighi is also eminent for feathered animals along with a large number of migratory birds assemble in the lake every year. Among the chief species cotton and lesser whistling teal, ruddy shell duck are noteworthy. Ideal time for watching these migratory birds in SagarDighi is December to February.
Rasik Bill Stretched over an area of 2500 hectares on the Alipurduar, Khamakhyaguri Road RasikBill is the biggest the wetland and also habitat of migratory birds in North Bengal.
For Further Information: West Bengal Tourism Centre, 3/2, Binoy Badal Dinesh Bag, Dalhousie
BBD Bag East, B B D Bagh, Kolkata, Kolkata, West Bengal 700001, 033 22103199 , 22485168, 22485917
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How to reach / hotels / resorts in Cooch Behar
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